Since tomorrow is an extra day (2/29/12) Walt Disney World will be open for 24 hours.  According to the great site Chip & Co, you can expect 2 extra parades, 4 showings of that slide show on the castle, 7 dwarfs, and 4.5 hours of dance party. They posted a great updated schedule.

What some uber-fans (or what Chip & Co. calls Disney Addicts) have done is schedule meet-ups or special events of their own to mark the day. My theory is that time in the parks, though magical, is kinda like being in a taxi with the meter running. You are going to spend money in direct proportion to each minute you are there.  If you are heading the parks on leap day, don’t forget that you can bring your own snacks, charge your phones before you go, bring medicines you need to take on schedule with you in case transportation is busy, and bring extra camera batteries.  Also, be aware that many grown folks will be in their pajamas, and some of the characters are rumored to be planning on celebrating that way, as well, so you may get a once in a lifetime photo.

I think that 12 hours of parks, character meals around the resort, and fireworks would be my max. The latest I have stayed out was 2 a.m., after the Wine & Dine post-race party (and the sitter had the meter running, too).  We even watched the New Year’s Eve fireworks from our balcony at Old Key West because the call of the pillow was greater than the allure of the maddening crowds.

For those of you who are going, I tip my (special edition, embroidered, commemorative) ears to you. I’ll catch you next leap year.